Mount Tantalus Race
By Scott D. Hamilton, Jr. President Emeritus, MPRRC
Mount Tantalus Race – "All that goes up must come down." Whether clockwise or counter-clockwise,
Tantalus is a challenge to 2,000 feet above sea level! Whether you are taking part in the MPRRC
race in October, are simply practicing on the beautiful mountain forest park, it is a memorable
experience. So bring your camera! The mountain on one side has about 30 road curves at Round Top
Drive, going counter-clockwise. At the highest point the roadway is called Tantalus Drive and you must
switch to Makiki Heights Drive or you will end up at Punch Bowl Cemetery. The roadway does not reach the
2,000 foot summit, but there are trails that will take you there. There are also numerous hiking trails
in the valley between the two sides of the mountain. From Tantalus you can look in different directions,
from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor. There is much peace and quiet, with fewer cars and homes the higher
you go. It is safe by daylight, but more dangerous in the dark due to limited lighting and poor visibility
around the curves. Casual running may take close to 90 minutes or more. Or you can take the #15 bus halfway
up and start from the Contemporary Museum. Give it a try and you will never regret.
Editors note: Scott D. Hamilton, Jr. was the National President of the Road Runner's Club of America (RRCA)
in 1966. He is now President Emeritus of the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club, Hawaii's largest running club.
Scott shares something in common with olympic champion, Jeff Galloway: They both have set age group records
on this course that still stand today. In Scott's words, "it's not that we were so fast going up, but we
'fly' coming down."